Sunday Walks

Last Sunday we went for a walk on a new trail near home. It's always nice to walk along the water and watch the freighters and the local tour boats ( ours and Canada's!)  Claire especially enjoyed the mother goose and goslings.

 

I can't believe school has already started and fall is just around the corner, although the crickets and cicadas sure are a constant reminder. I guess that is what I love about Michigan, the seasons change and each has their own splendor to share..

It's School Time Again.

The first day of school always comes with some excitement ( Claire has a new classroom this year and a new teacher!) I'm excited for all the possibilities and learning opportunities, for friends, and fun! but for awhile I worry, will she say what she needs or will she struggle in silence? will she join in or exclude herself? will she be careful on the playground? the list goes on. I know as a mother of 2 other children that it's pretty normal for a parent to have these feelings ...So to all the parents out there sending their children to school know your not alone, and to all the teachers who so lovingly chose teaching as their career I thank you.

 

Sorting, Counting, and Summer Fun!

This summer has been so enjoyable and relaxing. We really didn't go on vacation but we did things around the house and outside, some summers are just that way. I guess it kind of carried over to summer schooling too. We just took it easy, enjoyed ourselves and had a lot of fun and learned along the way.

 

 

Summer Days and Pollywogs

 About two weeks ago my husband rescued ( yea rescued.) polliwogs from a ditch that was just about dried up, and since we have Rescue fish why not Rescue polliwogs!!  actually I had been bugging him to take us on a polliwog hunt because I wanted some frogs and or toads. Thus the rescue wogs!
  But this has turned into such a fun thing to do with Claire for summer school, we are looking at one weekly ( we catch it out of the pond I'm sure it's not the same one every week.) and then we look at it with a magnifying glass to see what's different about it and do a journal page! She loves it and so does my niece. Oh I love when things turn out as planned! and the big excitement will be finding out if it's a Frog or a Toad! 

Have a Toadally  Awesome Day!

 

New to drawing and Dimensions

I started taking a drawing class and I love it, although it can be pretty challenging. I guess I never looked at things so Closely before, it's really amazing, and beautiful. Now if I can only learn to draw what I see...  Oh I will be soooooo happy!

Are you doing anything that you have always wanted to do?

More Paper Experiments

 I've been trying a few things with paper, lately it's casting. It can be fun and it can be frustrating.. I tried making a bowl ( 3 times.) and all three times it failed. Stuck to the glass.. But have been doing molds and am loving it. My only problem is having the patience to wait until it's completely dry! This is my fish I've been working on. Isn't he cute and whimsical!! I just noticed I need to finish his eye.

 I love using glitter glue can you tell! It makes everything whimsical, I used blue and pink paper, the paper he is on is also homemade. Now I have to figure out what I want to do with him. Should I put him on a card or make a picture with him.... decisions, decisions..

 

Drying Flowers

There's nothing more enjoyable than walking around in our gardens in the morning with a cup of coffee and taking in all the sights and sounds. Today as I was enjoying my walk I took note of some flowers I wanted to dry for future projects. Virginia Blue Bells ( I had never dried before but didn't they turn out nice!) some Forget Me Not's, and wild Violets. I started trying to dry flowers I think around 10 or so, with a shoe box full of sand. I don't remember if it worked or not but drying flowers has always fascinated me.  What is something you've tried off and on since you were a child that has always fascinated you?

Loom Weaving Class

Last Saturday I spent the afternoon at the local art studio taking a loom weaving class. It was so relaxing and enjoyable, although I would have liked to have been able to pick a color, this was alright as it's my husbands favorite so I knew right away I would make it for him.

I loved using the shuttle and learning to use 2 of the peddles. I did enjoy it but it seems like a lot to set up a loom and  I think I would get terribly bored after the excitement wore off. I have to be careful when deciding which things ( hobbies, crafts, etc.) to pursue as I do tend to get bored with it after awhile.  I enjoyed learning how to make this scarf but I am not going to go out and get a loom, and will probably not weave again for a long while. But isn't my model handsome?!? What is something you tried and enjoyed but probably wont pursue?

Letters anyone?

 I've been busy making cards, and some home made paper. Seems a shame to not be able to use it..

 

As you know I've started a letter writing group and would really like a few more people to exchange letters with, would any of my blogger friends be interested? If so just send me an email ( it's in my profile.)  Hope to hear from you soon!

Wendy

One foot on the floor

We got a pedestal table set about two years ago. With a pedestal table you don't have four legs to keep the top from moving a little, therefore a problem was created that I'm not sure why, I know how,...the table top wobbled a little ( which my DH tightened.) but the phobia had already presented itself, from that point on Claire would not  sit anywhere without being able to put at least one foot on the floor. I think she thought the chair had something to do with the wobble, I tried to show her as she hung onto the edge of the table with both arms and hands for dear life, that the chair didn't wobble and dad was fixing the wobble in the table, no amount of reasoning with her was working, so ,now whenever we sit at said table Claire keeps one foot on the floor. I felt so bad about this, wishing she could just relax and not be so afraid...but I wasn't even sure what she was afraid of, falling? movement?  All this because of a table ?  It also made me take notice of some other things that I knew went on but didn't think much of, always shutting doors if left open, where people sit at the table, little routines that she has. They aren't bad habits or routines, just the way things kind of run around here. It got me thinking about routines, for awhile we didn't have a put in stone routine, my mom was living with us for awhile and things changed almost daily, but now we are back into a routine, morning , evening, bedtime..  and today ....Claire sat at the table without her one foot grounded to the floor. Is it because of a routine? more self confidence? I'll never know but I'm so happy to see her relaxed and animated in what  conversation she contributes at the table, maybe one day she'll tell me what that was all about, but more likely not. and that's okay.

Letter Writing

 It started in junior high school this love for letter writing. We had a teacher who had us exchange letters with a class in Sweden, I was hooked!! I had my pen pal for years, but after we both married and started moving we lost track. I still have my letters tucked away for safe keeping, and every once in awhile I'll stumble upon them and read them again. You see emails just don't create that excitement of opening your mail box and getting a letter, an envelope addressed to you! I don't save emails too much, but I have a special box for some of the letters I've kept.

Do any of you like to write and receive letters, cards, postcards? When was the last time you sat down and jotted a note to someone? Give it a try I know you'll feel great popping it into the mail box and I'm pretty sure it'll bring a smile to the person who receives it. Go ahead you might start a habit you just can't keep to yourself ! Happy Writing!

Paper Fun

Yesterday was another freezing cold, snowy day.... a perfect day for paper making!! and that I did!!
  It was fun experimenting with different techniques. I had never made round papers before so I gave it a try, and well then one thing led to another. I had made sherbet colors, and was so pleased with the colors when they dried.

The round will be nice for fun little note cards, but I really like the colors so I think I'll make some stationary, and possible some matching envelopes. What are you doing during this winter weather?

Guinea Pig and Dog Hair

Poor Raja, she has had to put up with my penny pinching schemes of late.

After the  butcher grooming job she had done the last time I took her I thought....huuummmmm....I bet I could do this, so off to the library, I went.  After some practice I did do pretty good, but then the clippers died. So in thinking I could take her back to get groomed or save the money and do it myself, I went out and bought clippers.  So once again Raja was a guinea pig but hey I don't think the results were too bad, and I think she rather liked all the attention.

She's such a good sport. I love this dog!!

Valentine Mail

Tonight our letter writing group met for the first time in quite awhile. We enjoyed putting together little containers filled with valentine goodies to mail.

My sister Kathy brought some really good tea to try, which we all liked! My sister Laurie and I brought all kinds of little things that would fit in the containers.( I can't tell what they are as I don't want to spoil the surprise.)

We had so much fun putting these together and thinking of all kinds of possibilities, I'm sure this will be something we do quite often as we all enjoyed it so much. I just love sending mail!!

A Quiet Morning.

It's snowing and windy here, and I really can't believe they had school today but they do, so in the quiet of the moment I poured myself a cup of coffee , grabbed some of my red homemade paper I had leftover from a previous project, and enjoyed cutting out hearts.

 I'll add them to the letters I write this month. Aren't they fun! Now I'll sit and write a few letters and hopefully add a little sunshine to someone's day!!

OH Spring Where Are YOU???????

  I know, I know , it's only January and tomorrow starts February ( well yeah for that!)  but I can't  help wishing it was April, not that I want to rush the seasons, or the year, but I'm just getting tired of...well....winter.

 The freezing cold these last couple of weeks has been enough for me to turn my back on Old man winter, and Jack frosts paintings aren't even thrilling me at this point (although I do think frost on my window is beautiful as long as I'm warm in my house!)  Oh how I long for Spring. I'm trying not to complain so for now I'll just whine...  Here's to staying warm and comforters, and good books and tea, coffee, and warm happy thoughts! Think Spring!!

A Morning Request

Claire said she wanted an apple for breakfast, I heard her but evidently didn't respond quickly enough ( which isn't unusual at 6:30am) so as I made my way out into the dining room I found this on the table, placed so nice and neatly.

 

She even put a napkin down! Good morning and good health to all!

My New Old Buffet

My sister decided she didn't want this cabinet anymore so I volunteered to take it off her hands and I can't wait to see it finished.

I love using Silverware serving pieces and Tablecloths and wanted to find something I could store them in. I thought this would be perfect! The long skinny drawer at the top wasn't a drawer at all but my husband turned it into one for me.

and added a drawer pull. We'll line it with felt or velvet.

The bottom 2 doors were actually two separate areas, so I asked him if he could take the divider out and make a shelf so I could put my linens in it and on the bottom place my dishes that I've collected..

I know it looks pretty rough but I can't wait to see it finished! The only major problem I'm having with this whole thing is what color to paint it??? I'm doing a country cottage theme in our home and this is in the dining room which is a muslin color, so I don't want it to just blend into the walls. Anyone have any ideas? Stay posted for the finished project!

Tea and Toast

Yes the awful stomach sickness has appeared on our doorstep, and unfortunately it hit Claire, in the middle of the night. She's feeling better today and as I made her tea and toast I was reminded of my own childhood.

If I was recuperating my mom always fixed me tea and toast for my first meal. It seemed to work so I've continued with my own children. I love the little sandwich cutters they have out now and have bought a few different ones, today seemed like Claire needed a little extra love and care, thus the heart. I hope everyone is staying warm and taking a little TLC for yourselves.

Doll Love

She truly does love her dolls, but maybe just a little too much!  I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing...it kind of reminds me of Sid on Toy Story.

I'm not sure how her head fell off, probably from the one two many times of making her fly from the string of the cat toy ( which I thought was pretty creative.) fairies fly right! But it was bound to happen and happen it did.

needless to say she wasn't too upset and found other uses for this headless companion ( # 4)

I mean who doesn't want a stylish necklace with a headless doll hanging from it?

Yes Santa brought her a new victim doll. To doll # 5 I can only say you will be truly loved!!